HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL........

GS writes to Secretary(P) on convening of supplementary DPC for PS Group B

No. GS/AIAIASP/PS Gr.B/DPC/2013                           dated        30/12/2013

To,

Ms P. Gopinath,
Secretary,
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi 110 001.

Subject: Request for convening supplementary DPC on actual calculation of vacancies, linking to repatriation of existing Group B officer working outside their Circles.

Respected Madam,

IPASP Association intends to bring to your kind notice that there is promotional hierarchical imbalance at different level of IP to Group B and JTS Group A due to miscalculation of vacancies while convening DPC.  As a result department is resorting to the officiating arrangements time and again or handing over dual changes of divisions to the suffering of cadre that further leads to deteriorating of postal services. But unfortunately no care is being bestowed towards the welfare of IP cadre and their timely promotions, supplementary DPC and repatriation as well. In order to avoid such an effect and the best way for improving the efficiency of a given task, the association has suggested many ways and means by writing on different issues but all these letters have been discarded without any remedial actions. Some of the instances are as under:    

Supplementary DPC of the left out vacancies from the extended zone of consideration is a part of main DPC and should be convened immediate after completion of one month against left out vacancies so as the officers in the extended zone may not be deprived of their legitimate right and benefits. It is also the established law that if the consideration for promotion gets delayed for no fault of the employee who is found fit for promotion in that vacancy year, then natural justice would require grant of the benefit of promotion with retrospective effect from the date of occurrence of the vacancy. This has held by the court of law in various cases. In the year 2012 but after regular DPC-2011, 23 vacancies were left vacant depriving equal number of  senior most officer of this right that too keeping DOP&T instructions at stake. In the vacancy year 2013, vacancies occurring in December 2013 have not been taken into account leaving a chunk of vacancies of the given year. It is not understood how to fill this gap. Now no action to convene supplementary DPC has been initiated.

In the recently held DPC another glaring irregularity of promoting far-far junior ignoring right of senior was pointed out vide this association letter No. CHQ/AIAIPASP/PS Gr.B/DPC/2013 dated 16-11-2013 but no action to rectify the irregularity by conducting review/ supplementary has been taken. It will not be wrong to mention that rules are interpreted to the individual suitability as no uniformity is being maintained while repatriating the Group B officers. It is not understood why the department is adopting tortuous attitude towards the demands of IP cadre whereas all other cadres are given due and timely settlements to their demands even if it may be a case of choice posting of any individual officers/ officials.

           IP/ASP Association in the recent past raised issue on the arbitrary and illogical orders issued by Directorate, prescribing a compulsory service of minimum of 2 years in RMS/Postal side for being eligible for promotion to the cadre of ASP and a compulsory service of minimum of 3 years in RMS/Postal side for being eligible for promotion to the cadre of PS Group B.  Nobody sitting at the helm of affairs tried to explore the actual position and know how possible would it be to implement the aforesaid orders when there is a ration gap of 90:10 in IPO/ASP: IRM/ASRM. Now, the result is that all the promotions from IP to ASP have been blocked by circles jeopardizing the promotional prospects of IPs/ASPs in all the Circles.

As there is wide spread discrimination toward the cadre so this association request your kind honour to review the cases of IP/ASP and issue orders for convening supplementary DPC, cause immediate repatriation of all Group B officers completed one year in outside Circles and take necessary action to withdraw the mandatory condition of aforesaid service, which is per-se detrimental to the interest of the cadre and department.

We shall be grateful to you.

 

Thanking you, 

Yours sincerely,

 

Sd/-

(Vilas Ingale)

General Secretary 

Copy forwarded to :  

1.   Shri V. P. Singh, DDG (P), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001.  

2.   Ms Trishaljit Sethi, DDG (Estt.), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001.

Merry Christmas to all the Members

Four Monthly with Chief PMG-excerpts

The gist of the Four Monthly Meeting held with Chief PMG today at CO is furnished for information of all members. Sri. Ajith Kurian, CS and Sri. T.M.Krishnaswamy, President represented the Association.

Item No. 1- Split duty hours for postmasters of ASP cadre in CR.

Reply:  Orders imposing split duty hours  in CR have been revoked by PMG (CR) and item stands settled.

Item No.-2- Reimbursement of food bills while on tour

Reply- In Tamilnadu where orders as pointed out by the Association has been issued, the same has been run into audit objection on the ground that such instructions can be made applicable only for officers coming under C&AG. Hence, similar orders cannot be issued in Kerala Circle. Nevertheless, the grievience highlighted being genuine, the matter will be taken up with Directorate.

Item No.3- Reimbursement of Mobile charges for IPs/ASPs

Reply- In TN, enhanced amount was given based on the achievement of targets by all the IPs/ASPs. As such, a decision in this regard can only be taken based on the performance of the IPs/ASPs. Prospects for introducing CUG plan among the IPs/ASPs will be examined.

While discussing some issues of transfer informally,  it was informed by Chief PMG that request transfers of IPs/ASPs will be considered only after assessing the performance of the officers.

All India Conference at Ahmedabad on 7th & 8th Feb - delegates

As already announced, the 38th All India Biennial Conference of the Association is due to be held in Ahmedabad on the 7th and 8th of February, 2014. All members who wish to be a part of the delegation from Kerala Circle is requested to give their names either to the CS or to Sri. Manoj  or to Sri. Anto.G.Manalil. As reservations are to be done, all are requested to act on priority basis.

All India Conference to be held in Ahmedabad

It has been informed by Shri V. R. Shah, Circle Secretary, All India Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents Posts, Gujarat  Circle Branch that, his circle is willing to hold 38th All India Biennial Conference at Hotel Tune, Visat Cross Road, Sabarmati, Ahmedabad-38005 on 7th and 8th February, 2014. Further details of the conference will be placed on blog soon.

Contact details : 
Shri V. R. Shah, 
Circle Secretary and ASP, Odhav Sub Division,
Ahmedabad City Division, Ahmedabad
Mobile No. : 09426572244
e-Mail       : vinoodrshah@gmail.com

Movement in ASP Cadre - NR

PMG Calicut has issued the following transfer order:

Sri Ramesh M.P ASP(OD) Manjeri Division under orders of transfer as ASP Manjeri Sub Division to be ASP(OS) Manjeri  vice Sri Kunhisoopy retired. 

Posting in PSS Gp B Cadre - NR

PMG Calicut vide letter No STA/1-26/18-14 dated 17/12/2013 has issued the following posting order

Sri K.C.Velayudhan ASP(HQ) Thalassery on regular promotion and stands allotted to Northern Region to be SPOs, Kasaragod Division, Kasaragod.

The association wishes all the best to the officer in his new assignment.

PSI project evaluation meeting at Chennai

Project Evaluation meeting as part of the ongoing  LO TCO/SEIKO Trade Union Rights Project was held at Hotel Rajpark, Chennai on 14th & 15th December. Our President, Sri. T.M.Krishnaswamy & Secretary Sri. Ajith Kurian represented the Association in the said workshop. Various Unions/Associations from the four sourthern states, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh and Tamilnadu apart from our state participated in the two day workshop wherein all the activities and tasks completed in the year 2013 was reviewed and analysed threadbare. Sri. R.Kannan, South Asia, Sub Regional Secretary of PSI was the facilitator in the said workshop.

ASPs from Kerala, TN and Karnataka who  participated in the workshop along with Sri. R.Kannan

Participants in the two day workshop

Posting of DPS(HQ) Kerala

Sri. A.Thomas Lourduraj, IPOs Group A (JAG-Adhoc) has been posted as Director of Postal Services (HQ), Kerala and he has taken charge on 16.12.13. Association extends a warm welcome to the officer and extends all support and co-operation in the days to come.

PSI Activities in 2013- gist of events

As part of the ongoing PSI/LOTCO project on Trade Union Rights two main activities as detailed below were held in Kerala:

1. One day workshop on Trade Union Rights was  held at Hotel Capital, Near TVM GPO on 28.9.13 in which a total of 20 members of our Association participated. The workshop was divided into two sessions. Forenoon Session comprised of sessions on topics like Introduction to PSI, Introduction to the concept of Trade Union Rights, Major TUR violations in India, Mechanisms to take up TUR violations & Major issues faced by Unions today. The methodology adopted was lecture with the aid of power point presentations along with group tasks and discussions. In the combined afternoon session with Confederation of Central Government Stenographer’s Association which followed, the guest faculty Dr. P.Suresh Kumar, Prof: & Head of Department of Economics, Government College Attingal, delivered a lecture on the topic ‘Relevance of Trade Union Activities in Contemporary India’.  

2. The second programme i.e workshop on TUR and Conduct Rules was held at Hotel Presidency, Near EKM(N) RS on 23.11.13 wherein 22 members of our Association partcipated. Forenoon Session comprised of sessions on topics like Introduction to PSI, Introduction to the concept of Trade Union Rights, Major TUR violations in India, Mechanisms to take up TUR violations & Conduct Rules as a weapon against the employees.In the combined afternoon session with Confederation of Central Government Stenographer’s Association which followed, Sri. T.M. Krishnaswamy, OSD, O/o PMG, Northern Region Calicut and President, All India Association of Inspectors/Asst. Superintendents Posts, Kerala Circle delivered a lecture on the topic “ Need for amending the CCS Conduct Rules with the changing times”.

 

Sri. Gopakumar handling a class on TUR at the Trivandrum Workshop

Partcipants at TVM Workshop

Circle Secretary Welcoming the Guest Faculty at the combined session at TVM

Audience during the Combined Session at TVM

Participants of the Kochi Workshop

7th Central Pay Commission- Government initiates process

 

 

The Government has initiated the process to constitute the 7th Central Pay Commission along with finalization of its Terms of Reference, the composition and the possible time frame for submission of its Report. The date of effect thereof will be known once the Report is available.

This was stated by Shri Namo Narain Meena, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha here today.

Favourable verdict in the Sr. PM CAT case

Hon'ble CAT Hyderabad Bench have delivered judgment in following OAs on 13/11/2013 in favour of applicants. Today, applicants have received certified copy of judgment.  

Sl. No.	Name of applicant	OA No.
1	Chi. Vijay Gopal, ASP, Secunderabad South Sub Division, Seecrunderabad 500025 and Shri G V. Shrinivasan, ASP (HQ), o/o SPOs, Kurnool Division, Kurnool.	1279/2011
2	Shri B. Krishna, ASP (HQ), o/o SPOS, Nalgonda Division, Nalgonda.	1314/2011
3	All India Association of Inspectors and Asstt. Supdt. Posts, AP Circle Branch represented by Circle Secretary, Shri S. Shabhir, AD (HD&T), o/o PMG, Hyderabad Region, Hyderabad.	1316/2011

 Brief of judgment :

 

The applicants who are holding the posts of ASPOs are provided from appearing for the departmental examination for promotion to the post of Sr. Postmasters, and only Inspectors of Posts which is lower grade post than the ASPOs are allowed to appear for the examination and in case they qualify in the examination, they would become seniors to ASPOs, which posts the applicants are holding and would be an anomalous situation. The contention of respondents that the applicants are holding Gazetted posts in the GP of Rs. 4600/- and as such, they need not be allowed to appear for exam cannot be accepted as the GP of Sr. Postmaster is Rs. 4800/-

It is make it clear that the applicants and the persons similarly placed to the applicants, who are holding the post of ASPOs, shall be allowed to compete in the LDCE for promotion to the post of Sr. Postmasters as and when the recruitment take place, subject to other conditions of eligibility being satisfied.

To view the copy of judgment, please CLICK HERE
 

  Hearty Congrats to all the applicants for their grand success.Keep up the fighting spirit....

Express Parcel Service launched in Kerala

 The newly introduced Parcel Service 'Express Parcel' was launched in Kerala on 2.12.13 by booking the first article destined to Bangalore EPH. The article was booked at Thiruvananthapuram Parcel  Booking centre (Thycaud) on the 2nd and dispatched to Bangalore EPH from EPH Thiruvananthapuram. Sri Ajith Kurian, Our CS and Manager, SPC Trivandrum received the first Express Parcel booked in Kerala at EPH Thiruvananthapuram. 

Sri. Ajith Kurian, Circle Secretary, Kerala & Manager SPC TVM receiving the first Express Parcel booked in Kerala at EPH Thiruvananthapuram.

The first Express Parcel being received in the EPH

Dispatch of the first article to EPH Bangalore in the presence of Sri.Saju John, Dy. Manager, SPC TVM.

The very first Express Parcel booked in Kerala for Bangalore

Department of Posts launched ‘Express Parcel’ and ‘Business Parcel' Services

 Department of Posts on 2 December 2013 launched an Express Parcel service and Business Parcel Services for speedy delivery of parcels across the country.The services were launched by Smt. P. Gopinath, Secretary, Department of Posts, at a function organized at New Delhi G.P.O.

About the Parcel Services

Express Parcel is a premium parcel service for retail as well as bulk customers. It offered time bound, safe and secure home delivery of parcels. To have minimal transit time these parcels will be given airlift wherever needed. 

Bulk customers would also have an economical option of surface transported ‘Business Parcel’. 

These two new parcel services aim to promote the e-commerce market in India by offering reliable and cost efficient delivery solutions. Whereas ‘Express Parcel’ is an air mail service providing guaranteed time bound delivery of parcels, ‘Business Parcel’ will provide fast, secure and cost efficient transmission of parcels through surface. These services will have ‘Cash on Delivery’ facility which has become a pre-requisite today for e-commerce parcels.

Though ‘Business Parcels’ will have a nationwide coverage, the ‘Express Parcel’ service will initially be available between 20 identified cities: Agra, Banglore, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Delhi (NCR), Patna, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indoor, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Pune, Parwanoo, Shillong, Surat and Thiruvanthapuram. This service will be expanded nationwide in phased manner.

Mapping of PLI/RPLI sales force and payment of incentive from HOs

To view the instructions issued by PLI Directorate, please CLICK HERE

Guide to RTI Act 2005

To view DoPT memo No. 1/32/2013-IR dated 28th November 2013, please CLICK HERE

Visit of GS & Team to Directorate

Our General Secretary, CHQ President, CHQ Treasurer, CHQ OGS-II, CS WB and CS Haryana  Circle visited Postal Directorate on 27/11/2013 and 28/11/2013 and met with Member (Personnel), DDG (P), DDG (Estt), Director (Staff), Director (Estt), OSD to Secretary (Posts) and also to concerned ADGs/SOs. S/Shri Ajith Kumar ASP (PMU) and Parmanand ASP (PMU) also accompanied to CHQ team and extended their  full co-operation.  During the course of meetings, following pending issues were discussed in detail and present status is noted against each.

 

S. No.	Items discussed	Present status
1	Supplementary DPC for the promotion to the cadre of PS Gr. B	Directorate is going to call for the information from all circles about joining / declining the promotion in PS Gr. B cadre by officer/s who selected under Memo No. 9-33/2013-SPG dated 10/10/2013 and then only proceed further for holding of supplementary DPC if needed.
2	Repatriation of PS Gr. B officers to their Home Circle	It was assured that repatriation memo will be issued immediately after receipt of information from circles.
3	Formation of revised Recruitment Rules for the post of PS Gr. B cadre	There is no progress in the matter. Some creation memos of PS Gr. B cadre are still awaited to reply the query raised by DoPT.
4	Cadre restructuring / promotional aspects concerning Inspectors and Assistant Superintendent Posts.	This vital issue discussed in the meeting held with Member (P) at length. GS, President, Treasurer, CS WB, CS Haryana and OGS-II have taken active part in the discussion. Member (P) / DDG (P) and Director (Staff) who attended the meeting have principally accepted the proposal. CHQ team also met with DDG (Estt.), Director (Estt.), ADG (Estt.) and discussed the issue and requested them to move the proposal as early as possible. OSD to Secretary (P) told us that, Madam is also in favour of the proposal.
5	Holding of DPC for the promotion to JTS Gr. A for the year 2012-13 and 2013-14.	Few periods CRs /APARs of 32 officers are still awaited for which Directorate has asked for NRC from circles. Vigilance clearance report i/r/o one officer from UP circle is awaited. The representations submitted by one officer each from Gujrat, Maharashtra and Odisha circle against below bench mark in their CRs/APARs have not been finalised by circles. In view of these problems, DPC for the year 2012-13 is said to be delayed. DPC for 2013-14 will be convened after holding of DPC for 2012-13.
6	Request for grant of Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- to the ASPs after completion 4 years of regular service in G.P. of Rs. 4800/- earned under MACP Scheme.	The matter is still under process at Directorate.
7	Grant of honorarium to part time Inquiry Officers/ Presenting Officers for conducting inquiries under Rule-10 of GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2011 and revision of financial powers delegated to CPMG for sanction of the Honorarium	File already sent to DoPT for enhancing the limit.
8	Revision of monetary ceiling of briefcase/ladies purse for official  purposes	This issue discussed with DDG (Estt.). DOP is thinking to seek the approval from MoF for which Association took objection and requested to approve the limit GP wise.
9	Non convening of DPC for the promotion to Dy. Manager MMS.	DPC for 4 posts of Dy. Manager MMS will be convened in next month.
10	Formation of revised Recruitment Rules for the post of Assistant Manager in MMS.	New concept on Direct Recruitment and Departmental Quota is under consideration. The report of study committee is awaited.
11	Irregularity in promotion and postings in PS Gr. B cadre- Case of Shri P.M. Parmar (Gujrat).	Review DPC is likely to be convened very soon.
12	LDCE for promotion to the cadre of Sr. Postmaster (Gazetted).	No progress. Directorate has not received the outcome of CAT cases either from applicants or concerned circles.
13	Identification of Posts of HSG-I (IP Line) for Postmaster Grade III in Karnataka Circle.	Directorate have issued instructions to all circles for filling up of vacant posts of HSG-I.
14	Declaration of review results of Inspector Posts for the year 2008.	Few candidates missing CRs are being traced at Directorate and then review result will be declared.
15	Filling of back log of Direct Recruit Quota of Inspector Posts in all circles.	DOP is going to formulate new policy on Direct Recruit quota. This year good number of candidates allotted to circles by SSC.
16	Merger / de-merger of IPO/IRM cadre minimum working experience about postal /RMS wing before promotion to ASP / Supdt. Cadre.	This will not be affected on regular promotion to any IP/ASP. In this regard instructions are being issued shortly.
17	LDCE for the promotion to the cadre of PS Gr. B for the year 2013.	Due to receipt of large number of representations on previous examination result and CAT cases, notification for next examination will not be issued till taking over the proper action / decision thereon.
18	Declaration of result of IP and PM Grade-I examination 2013.	The representations received from candidates are under examination / scrutiny. It will take some time.
19	Inter Circle Transfer Rule 38 transfer cases of Inspector Posts.	Directorate have already issued guidelines to all circles for regulating the requests received from IPs. CPMsG are competent to decide the transfer cases on merit. The specific issue, if any may be taken up with Directorate for consideration.
20	Issue of combined seniority list of Inspector Posts cadre	It is under issue.

Revised/Recast results of IPO Examination-2012

 

 

Directorate vide memo No. A-34013/07/2013-DE(pt) dated 25^th November 2013, has declared revised and recast result of the departmental examination for promotion to the cadre of Inspector of Posts Examination for the year 2012 held on 13^th and 14^th October, 2012.

S/Shri Jamit Amrutlal Patel (Guj), Praveen Chandra Pant (Jharkhand) and Soumya Pramanik (WB) have  been selected additionally and appointed them against any existing / future vacancies of the respective circles.

To view the copy of result, please CLICK HERE.

Revised/Recast result of the PS Group B Examination 2012

Directorate vide memo No. F.NO A-34013/03/2012- DE dated 22nd November 2013 has declared revised result of LDCE for the promotion to the cadre of PS Gr. B held on 3/6/2012. To view the copy of memo, please CLICK HERE. Only following two candidates additionally selected after recasting the entire evaluation process. 

Shri R. J. Sonawale (SC) Maharashatra Circle selected from IP Line and Shri Hanuman S.Visen of UP Circle additionally selected from General Line. Their absorption is against existing /future vacancies from respective quotas. Hearty Congrats to the selected officers.....

Sad News

Mother of Sri V.P.Ahammad Ashraf, AD(Staff) , RO Calicut

expired today ( in the morning on 28/11/2013)

The association expresses deepest condolence.

Merger of ASP cadre to PS Group B- cadre

No. GS/AIAIASP/Merger-ASP/2013                                      dated          20/11/2013.

To,

Ms P. Gopinath, 

Director General,

Department of Posts,

Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi 110 001.  

Subject: Merger of ASP cadre in to PS Gr. B cadre--- Proposal regarding.

Respected Madam,  

This Association would like to bring to your kind notice that Directorate has constituted a committee under the Chairpersonship of Member (Personnel) vide memo No. 1/1/2011-SR dated 9/9/2011 and accordingly, first meeting was held on 18/10/2011, followed by another meeting on 3/11/2011.  

(A)         During the course of meetings, it was brought to the notice of the Department about the stagnation being faced in the cadre of IPs/ASPs and the long span of service running up to 26 years which IP/ASP have to put in, before getting promotion to PS Gr. B.  The issue of restructuring of IPs /ASPs cadre was also discussed in the meeting but it did not materialize. The issue of parity of GP and promotional prospects of IPs in the Department like Income Tax and Central Excise etc was also discussed at length and department has not considered this also. Chairperson brought to the notice of this Association that it is the difference in the hierarchical structures between Department of Posts and other Departments like Income Tax and Central Excise as also Central Secretariat. While in other Departments, Inspectors get promotion direct to PS Gr. ‘B’ but in the Department of Posts there exists an intermediary grade of ASPs having Gazetted status. The response of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure was also informed in the matter of raising the Grade Pay of Inspectors from the existing Rs. 4200/- to Rs. 4600/- so as to bring them on par with Inspectors in other Departments. While discussing the possibility of upgrading certain posts in the Circle Offices and other field formations to Gr. B so as to accelerate the promotional prospects of IPs/ASPs, it has been informed that Department of Expenditure has not favoured it unless the gazetted status of ASPs has foregone so as to have single level in the cadre as it may facilitate raising the grade pay of IPs from the existing Rs. 4200/- to Rs. 4600/- and may pave way for speedier promotion due to upgrading of certain posts to Gr. B.  In the said meeting, this Association has assured that the proposal of foregoing the gazetted status of ASPs will be discussed in the next CWC meeting of this Association and revert back to the Department with a final proposal.  

(B)         This Association had their 37^th All India Biennial Conference in Bangaluru on 28/1/2012 and 29/1/2012 in which the issue of merger of ASP cadre into IP cadre was discussed in depth and the august house passed a unanimous resolution detailed here under:-

    “This Association is against the merger of Inspector Posts and Assistant    Superintendents Posts cadre. Inspector Posts should be granted Grade Pay   of Rs. 4600/- with effect from 01/01/2006 at par with Inspectors of   CBDT/CBEC in tune with directions of the Hon’ble CAT, Ernakulam Bench”.  

          The decision arrived at AIC was forwarded to Member (P) by name under letter No. CHQ/IPASP/1/2012 dated 22/2/2012. But till date neither any reply has been received from Directorate nor this Association was called for further discussion in the matter. Thus, the vital issue still remains unresolved. Therefore this Association has requested Directorate to relook in to the issue of merger of Inspector Posts and Assistant Superintendents Posts and clarify the following points sought for vide Association letters dated 17/7/2012, 20/9/2012, 1/10/2012, 11/1/2013, 14/6/2013 and 19/8/2013. It is obvious that these letters were also not given the much desired attention.

1.            What would be the nomenclature of the merged cadre without Gazetted status.

2.            At present, IP/ASP cadre is having separate Appointing / Disciplinary Authority i.e. DPS is the Appointing Authority for IPs and Chief PMG for ASP cadre. Powers for imposition of minor penalties on IP cadre vests with Divisional Head while for ASP cadre, the authority competent is DPS. For major penalties, DPS is the competent authority for IP cadre and Chief PMG for ASP Cadre. Hence it may be clarified as to who will be the Appointing Authority and Disciplinary Authority for the merged cadre.

(C)         This Association would like to indicate that 5^th CPC in para 32 of Appendix 1 of volume 3 stated that cadre review has become part of cadre rules and they are to be mandatorily held once in 5 years. It has also been observed that holding of cadre review itself is a justifiable matter. However, the department has not taken any further effort to implement the accepted recommendations of second cadre review committee and also to review the promotional prospects of this cadre once in 5 years as recommended by the 4^th CPC and also accepted by the Govt. In view of the stagnation faced by the Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents Posts and ever increasing span of promotion, we have made repeated requests to the Department to constitute third Cadre Review Committee and we have also suggested re-organisation of postal sub divisions as a possible outcome of the cadre review. But the Department has not constituted any such committee so far nor has the Department initiated review of the promotional prospects of this cadre on its own.  

(D)     The duties and responsibilities of the Inspector Posts / Assistant Superintendents Posts are laid down in Chapter III Rule 260 to 302 and 320 to 335 of Postal Manual Volume VIII. However, this does not give the clear picture about the actual duties performed in particular by Sub Divisional Inspector / ASP. The duties and responsibilities attached to Inspector Posts / Assistant Superintendent Posts has undergone a major change. Apart from duties prescribed in the above quoted rules, they perform many more functions, which are not specified in the rules. Broadly, they can be classified as follows:

·         Mandatory inspections of sub post offices, branch offices & submission of IR within stipulated time

·         Visits / second inspections

·         Investigations in loss & fraud cases/ past work verification of all passbooks of all types of SB schemes in case of fraud in HO/ SO/ BO.

·         Sanction of leave/ paid leave to GDS & acting as appointing authorities of GDS & disciplinary authority of GDS.

·         Achievement of targets in r/o PLI/ RPLI & marketing of different premium products and supervision & after sale service.

·         Credit verification in r/o RPLI premium collected by BOs

·         Est-2 verification (to ensure justification of existing PO & creation of new PO)

·         Verification of statistics relating to work load of PAs, SAs ,Postman, MTS GR-C, Branch PM, GDS etc.

·         Invigilation duties in r/o departmental exam.

·         Settlement of pending SBCO objections / minus balance cases.

·         Heavy cash withdrawal verification

·         SB/NSC claim verification

·         RPLI incentive bill verification

·         RPLI death claim verification & processing of papers.

·         Collection & verification of Pension papers of PA, SA, Postman, MTS etc.

·         Collection of relaxation appointment papers & verification.

·         Functioning as IO.

·         Functioning as PO.

·         Functioning as Ad-hoc disciplinary authority.

·         Verification of mark lists submitted by the officials.

·         Preparation of special report for departmental selection committee.

·         Franking machine checking.

·         Checking of passbooks/ money order payments

·         Attending court cases (CDRF/CAT/High Court) & meetings with AGP/PP/Govt. Counsels.

·         Checking of punctual clearance of letter boxes by Posting “Test letters”

·         Periodical mail survey

·         Initial and final verification of house building cases

·         Being the member of checking squads for detecting the leakage of revenue or any other specific purposes.

·         Imparting training to GDS / Postman/ MTS Gr-C/ PA/ SA.

·         Monitoring of Project Arrow post offices- sending of DET file daily.

·         Checking of delivery status of concerned Project Arrow POs daily.

·         Cash conveyance to BOs/SOs/HOs with or without escorts.

·         Conveyance of State Govt. Public Service Commission / SSC / UPSC examination materials in postal bags to respective head quarters under police protection /escort.

These are not exhaustive and still there are many functions the Sub Divisional Inspectors / Assistant Superintendent Posts are required to perform. Though many of the new additions are major in nature, the relevant rules have not been amplified to include the entire gamut of work performed by the Inspector/Assistant Superintendent Posts. It will not be wrong to say that the total responsibility for successful implementing the various innovative schemes launched by department are virtually devolved on the IP and ASP but department had have never taken care of the demands of the cadre, may it be GP issue/ cadre review or anything.   

(E)     The 4th Central Pay Commission noticed that the pattern of Recruitment for posts of Inspector in other Central Government Organizations like Customs and Central Excise and Income Tax provides for direct recruitment through Staff Selection Commission at the level of Inspector. However, in the Postal Department, there was no direct recruitment above the level of Postal and Sorting Assistants, or at Group-B level.   In the interest of efficiency of service, it was felt necessary to introduce an element of direct recruitment at the level of Inspectors through the Staff Selection Commission in the Department of Posts.  The 4th Central Pay Commission recommended for introduction of direct recruitment to that level under the Department of Posts to rectify the anomaly and suggested that the two cadres of IPO/IRM and ASPO/ASRM cadres can be merged, and accordingly, the Government was advised to examine what scale of pay will then be suitable for these posts.          

          The 5th Central Pay Commission reiterated its recommendation that Inspectors of Post Offices and RMS should be merged and upgraded to Rs. 1640-2900 (Rs. 5500-9000 revised) and filled 33.1/3rd% by direct recruitment from the Inspectors' Grade examination of Staff Selection Commission. The scale of pay of Inspector of Post Offices/ Inspector of RMS was revised to Rs.5500-9000 with effect from 01-01-1996 as recommended by the 5th Central Pay Commission as per Office Memorandum dated 06-04-1998. It is submitted that the scale of pay of Rs.5500-9000 granted to the Inspector of Posts was equivalent to the scale of pay granted to the Inspectors and analogous posts in CBDT/CBEC and Assistants in CSS.

          Accepting the recommendations of the 4th and 5th Central Pay Commissions in regard to introduction of direct recruitment at the Inspectors level, the President in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution and in supersession of the Posts and Telegraphs Department (Inspectors of Post Offices, Inspectors of Railway Mail Service and Inspectors (Uniforms)) Recruitment Rules, 1997 promulgated Department of Posts, Inspector of Posts (Recruitment) Rules, 2001 introducing direct recruitment to the grade of Inspector of Posts and Inspector of R.M.S.  Column 11 of the Schedule appended to the Recruitment Rules, 2001 provides that 33.34% posts of Inspector shall be filled by Direct Recruitment through Staff Selection Commission and 66.66% by promotion through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination.  

          The introduction of direct recruitment at the level of Inspector under the Department of Posts, the Inspectors of Post Offices are brought on par with Inspectors of CBDT/CBEC without there being any perceptible functional differences, in the matter of duties and responsibilities or in the hierarchical status.  

          The pay scales of the post of Income Tax Inspectors under Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Posts of Inspector of Central Excise were revised from Rs.5500-9000 to Rs. 6500-10500 as per Office Memorandum dated 21-04-2004. The pay scale of the analogous posts of Assistants/PA's in Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and Central Secretariat Stenographers Service (CSSS) was also upgraded  from Rs.5500-9000 to the scale of Rs. 6500-200-10500 w.e.f 15.09.2006 as per Office Memorandum dated 25-09-2006. However, the pay scale of the Inspector of Post/Inspector of RMS under the Department of Posts has not been upgraded to the scale of Rs. 6500-200-10500 without any justifiable reasons.          

(F)    This Association would like to enclose herewith a chart showing the sanction strength of IPs/ASPs circle wise and post wise. The consolidated chart shows the total wing wise sanction strength.         

          This Association is not in favour to merge the ASP cadre into IP cadre. The decision arrived at AIC Bangalore was already communicated to Directorate and now it has been decided to go for merger of ASP cadre into PS Gr. B cadre, as ASP cadre have already been conferred Gazetted status in 2005. All the post of Sub Divisional Heads presently manned through ASP cadre i.e. 627 to be downgraded to IP and remaining posts of ASPs i.e. available in DO/RO/CO etc would be upgraded to PS Gr. B level.  

1.    Total ASP Sub Divisions (Postal)       : 596

2.    Total ASP Sub Divisions (RMS)         :   31

              Total (1+2)  ......                            : 627

         3.    Total ASPs                                      : 1824 (As per revised RRs)

4.    After down gradation of ASP sub Divisions to IP Sub Division there will not be any change in the number of sub divisions. Only ASPs posts will be reduced and IPs posts will be increased.

i.e. Total ASPs would be                   : 1824 – 627 = 1197  

5.    Total PS Gr. B posts as on date         : 866 + 10 = 876

6.    After merger of ASP to PS Gr. B        : 876 + 1197 = 2073

                  i.e. Total PS Gr. B would be

7.    Total IPs                                        : 2187 (As per revised RRs)

 

Matching Savings :

As on date GP of above three cadres are as under :

a)    Inspector Posts (IP)                    : Rs. 4200/-

b)   Assistant Supdt. Posts                 : Rs. 4600/-

c)    PS Gr. B                                    : Rs. 4800/-

 a)    The difference of GP between PS Gr. B and ASP is Rs. 200/- only.

     Net effect including DA, HRA etc. would be Rs. 425/- only.

     If ASP cadre merged with PS Gr. B cadre then additional expenditure would be as under:

     1197 x 425   = Rs. 508725/- per month

     Rs. 508725/- x 12 = Rs. 6104700/- per annum (Rs. 61 lacs)  

b) The difference of GP between ASP and IP is Rs. 400/- only.

     Net effect including DA, HRA etc. would be Rs. 850/- only.

     If 627 ASPs Sub Divisions are down-graded to IPs, reduced expenditure    comes to as under :

     627 x 850 = Rs. 532950/- p.m.

     Rs. 532950 x 12 = Rs. 6395400/- per annum (Rs. 64 lacs) 

Apparently net saving as worked out is Rs. 3 lacs per annum.

The number of resultant sanction strength would be as under:

IPs          : 2187 + 627          =       2814

ASP         : Nil                       =       Nil

PS Gr. B   : 876 + 1197          =       2073 

Conclusion: Since last 33 years no cadre review has taken place for IP cadre whereas all other cadres had managed to get benefits in their favour periodically. Only one cadre review was taken place for IP cadre whereas 5 cadre reviews have already been carried out for IPoS cadre and 6^th cadre review is presently under consideration. Last year this Association was called for to attend meeting in connection with Organizational Restructuring in Department of Posts and in the said meeting it was discussed about up-gradation of Class II divisions to Class I division and in each division there would be 2 PS Gr. B officers. In view of the said meeting, the upgraded posts of ASPs to PS Gr. B may be placed in division/RO/CO. 

We are waiting for positive response and if required meeting may be held with our Association for detailed discussion/clarification.

Yours sincerely,

 

Sd/-

(Vilas Ingale)

General Secretary 

Copy forwarded for information and necessary action to :  

1.    Shri S. Sarkar, Member (P), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001.

2.    Shri V. P. Singh, DDG (P), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001.

3.    Ms Trishiljit Sethi, DDG (Estt), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001 w.r.to ADG (SPN) letter No. 137-89/2013-SPB-II dated 11^th October 2013.

4.    Shri Arun Malik, Director (SR), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001 w. r. to his letter No. 01/01/2011-SR dated 25/8/2011, 14/11/2011,  6/9/2012, 4/10/2013, letter No. 02/02/2012-SR dated 17/4/2012 & letter No. 10-9/2013-SR dated 27^th August 2013, 30/9/2013.